19th International Conference on Endothelin: From New Discoveries to New Treatments

Project Summary Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a vascular protein that promotes cardiovascular disease by contributing to hypertension, inflammation, and diabetes. Masashi Yanagisawa was the first described ET-1 in 1988. Realizing the importance of ET-1 in human physiology, the First International Conference on Endothelin Research was held the same year that brought together internationally renowned scientists working in the endothelin field to exchange and disseminate research findings. The Conference has been held every two years and has naturally morphed into a highly interdisciplinary event. The Conference attracts both basic and clinical researchers with expertise in nephrology, neurology, cardiology, oncology, comparative physiology and anatomy, and more. The aim is to review advancements in basic, translation and clinical research on the endothelin system in health and disease. This meeting was last held in 2023 in Rome, Italy. Since then, major clinical advances have been made, including the first FDA approved ET-1 antagonist for uncontrolled hypertension. The purpose of this proposal is to seek support for the “19th International Conference on Endothelin: From New Discoveries to New Treatments” scheduled on September 21-24th, 2025. The program will be organized into nine distinct sessions themed in fields where major recent advances have been made in endothelin research. These include 1) renal physiology and pathophysiology, 2) oncology, 3) vascular biology and hypertension, 4) nervous system, 5) inflammation and rheumatology, 6) women’s health, 7) cardiology, 8) endocrinology and metabolism, and 9) clinical trials/health disparities. Each session will include an invited keynote lecture intermingled with four abstract based talks. Both invited and abstract based talks will be given by early stage and senior investigators. There will also be two poster sessions which will have “on call times” for presenters to give their 3 min poster presentation followed by a Q&A period. Moreover, the meeting will have a strong emphasis on trainee involvement with efforts to promote development of young scientists, including faculty/trainee pair mentoring to facilitate lunch and coffee break discussion and a trainee mixer to promote networking and comradery.